October 27, 2016

Mumbai 2016, Day 4: Taste and Tone

‘Multiple Maniacs’
(1970/ USA/ John Waters) is a C-grade crime comedy and is really, really bad.
But the reason why it has gained a cult status is exactly that: so bad that it
is good. I overheard some delegates sharing their disapproval after watching
more than one hour of it. I was prepared for both – the movie and the
audience’s reaction. In fact, I would have been disappointed if either were any
better.

Shakun Batra believes
a director’s primary job is to keep the tone of the movie right. Tone, he says,
comes from taste. And taste comes from exposure. It is important to be open to
all the varieties that come our way during a film festival. Taste buds grow
fast during this one week.

‘Clash’ (2016/ Egypt/
Mohamed Diab) is Egypt’s Oscar entry this year. The entire film is set inside a
van as the world outside clashes in one of recent history’s most violent
political movement. Despite being a drama set in war, it had moments of
brilliant humor and gripping thriller.

‘The Red Turtle’
(2016/ France-Belgium-Japan/ Michael Dudok de Wit) won Special Jury Prize (Un Certain Regard)
at Cannes this year. This silent animation film tells an extremely simple
story, with a fantastic twist that will leave you wondering what it is actually
about. I plan to write a post on it soon. The interpretation aside, watching it
on big screen was a meditative experience. I stepped out as if from a spa,
cleansed from within, calmed from outside.

And the last film of
the day was ‘Elle’ (2016/ France/ Paul Verhoeven) which was a brilliant example
of the director meticulously controlling the tone of the film. It was a drama
with elements of thriller, horror and mystery. But despite this it was funny
and thoroughly entertaining. It is France’s Oscar entry this year.

P.S. I started the 'Must Watch' recommendations in September 2010. Before that I had watched several movies that must feature in this list. But in order to save myself from the useless and predictable exercise of recommending all great movies, I decided to follow a simple eligibility criterion: The movies recommended here would be among those I watched or re-watched since September 2010. So please do not be surprised if 'Cinema Paradiso' or 'Apocalypse Now' (which are, in my opinion, definite Must Watch) do not feature in here. They will find a place in the list the day I re-watch them.